Real Champagne without real pain in your wallet

Who says you’ve got to be a one-percenter to afford good Champagne? Sommelier Derek Todd of Wine Geeks Armonk (559 Main St 914-273-9463; winegeeksarmonk.com) has selected seven Champagnes (yes, all real Champagnes from the Champagne region of France) to help make your holiday uncorkings less costly.

$47 Gaston Chiquet Brut Tradition
Grapes: Pinot Meunier/Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
Region: Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
Derek Todd Says: In the past, Gaston Chiquet’s structured wines have always required cellaring to reach their optimum drinkability, but, in recent years, they have started holding the wines longer in their cellars and the results are delicious!

$44 Pierre Moncuit Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut
Grapes: Chardonnay
Region: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France
Derek Todd Says: Two of my favorite high-end Champagnes, Krug and Salon, are neighbors of Pierre Moncuit in Mesnil. At a fraction of the price, you can get a sense of the terroir that makes these wines so special.